Report: Penn State Ready To Hire Patriots Bill O’Brien

Bill O'Brien, named the Patriots Offensive Coordinator on Friday, talks to head coach Bill Belichick and Tom Brady back in 2009. (Photo by Elsa/Getty Images)

BOSTON (CBS) – New England Patriots offensive coordinator Bill O’Brien is on the verge of taking over for Joe Paterno as head football coach of Penn State, according to a report by USA Today.

Joe Seraceno tweeted early Sunday that the two sides only need to work out contract details before O’Brien is officially named Paterno’s successor.

O’Brien is in his fifth season in New England and first as the Pats offensive coordinator. He spent the previous two seasons as quarterback coach and offensive play-caller without the official title of offensive coordinator.

His contract with New England is set to expire after this season.

O’Brien began his coaching career in the college ranks, taking over as tight ends coach at his alma mater Brown in 1993. His experience in the college game includes a stint as assistant head coach/offensive coordinator at Georgia Tech, with stops in Maryland and Duke as well.

One Comment

Don’t really care who takes over PSU as long as you get the current interim coach out of there. He is an obnoxious mouthpiece for Paterno, plus he had to have known what was going on. The entire coaching staff must go and be replaced by a staff with no connection to Penn State. An entire new mission and mindset needs to be put in place.